Should I use a sleep sack? What is a baby sleeping bag? In a word: yes. Putting your baby in a sleep sack – sometimes called a baby sleeping bag – is a great way to ensure that your baby is warm enough without worrying about the safety risk of using blankets. It may also be a good [...]
Are co-sleepers safe? A recent study looking at the safety of co-sleepers, which include infant bedside sleepers (they typically attach to the bed) and in bed sleepers (such as baby boxes), found that many of the reported adverse events that occurred while using a co-sleeper was due to improper use [...]
What should I consider when deciding whether or not to bed-share, with or without a “safe co-sleeper?” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing. If for personal or cultural reasons a caregiver wants to sleep near his or her infant, then using a [...]
Is it safe to swaddle my baby? According to a review of studies looking at the risks and benefits of swaddling healthy infants, swaddling has little risk to a baby if certain safety precautions are taken. These safety measures include making sure a baby is swaddled securely, placing a baby on his [...]
How do I get the television (and other electronics!) out of my child’s room without causing a week-long meltdown? In general, toddlers who have electronics in their room and use them right before bedtime get less sleep and have more sleep problems than ones who don’t. It may appear that the [...]
When can she lie on her stomach? All babies should sleep on their backs during the first year of life. This is important for naps in the day as well as at night-time and helps prevent sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS). There are only a few simple rules to follow to protect your baby – see [...]
Does sharing a bed with my child affect the risk of SIDS? Extensive research across the world has identified very clear risk factors for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and, importantly, ways that parents can reduce the chance of this happening. Without a doubt, sharing a bed increases the risk [...]
My baby won’t sleep – what am I doing wrong? Parents (and others in their lives) may blame themselves when their little one doesn’t sleep well, but it is important to recognize that many aspects of a baby’s sleep are not related to parenting. Your baby might have a medical condition, such [...]
Should I use music to help my baby get to sleep? Music can be a nice addition to the bedtime routine, especially if it seems to help your little one relax. You can play any type of music that your baby seems to enjoy; there is not a great deal of evidence to suggest that one type of music or sound [...]
My baby is developing a flat spot from always sleeping on his back. What can I do? If you are concerned that your baby is developing a flat spot as a result of always sleeping on her back, you can reposition or reorient your baby to more evenly distribute your baby’s head weight helping to [...]